Sports briefs: Feb. 22

The Denver Nuggets traded Anthony to the New York Knicks on Monday night, a league source told the Denver Post. Denver gets Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the Knicks' 2014 first-round draft pick, the Golden State Warriors' 2012 second-round pick, the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick and $3 million in cash.

Anthony will go to New York, along with Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman.

Anthony was not at the Nuggets' practice as the team resumed workouts following the All-Star break.

A source said the Knicks will send Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the deal.

Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said Monday after practice, after learning of the trade:

"I mean, it's just rebuilding first. We gotta go forward with what we got. And try to do the best we can in the playoffs."

When asked if there's time this season to salvage a Nuggets playoff run, Smith said:

"I think there is. Our backs have been up against the wall many times before."

■ The NBA All-Star game earned its highest television rating since Michael Jordan's last appearance in 2003. The Western Conference's 148-143 win Sunday night on TNT featuring a duel between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James drew a 5.2 rating. That's up 37 percent from last year, part of a season of strong ratings for a league bursting with intriguing story lines.

Auto racing

F1's season opener in Bahrain called off

Bahrain announced Monday that it will not host the Formula One Grand Prix race next month as scheduled following a Shiite-led uprising that led to a government crackdown and has left the political future of the country in doubt. The race, which had been scheduled for March 11, was supposed to kick off the Formula One season, and it is a major source of revenue and pride for the Bahraini government. Earlier on Monday there were reports that drivers refused to travel to Bahrain for test sessions March 3.

The fate of the race has been a major source of discussion in the capital, Manama, in recent days, with widespread speculation that it would be moved to another venue or canceled.

The announcement came as efforts by Bahrain's crown prince failed to entice Shiite leaders into meeting with him for discussions on a political compromise. Bahrain's Shiite opposition is fragmented between those who want to see the kingdom transformed into a constitutional monarchy and those who want to oust the ruling Sunni al-Khalifa family.

"After the events of the past week, our nation's priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together," Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa said in a statement.

Indianapolis 500 gets new start time

The Indianapolis 500 moved up the start time for the race's 100th anniversary running this spring. The 33 drivers are scheduled to take the green flag at noon on May 29. The race has started at 1 p.m. since 2006. The inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 started at 10 a.m. Indianapolis Motor Speedway said that was to ensure the race would finish by dinner time.

■ IndyCar Series officials called a news conference for Tuesday, when they're expected to add Las Vegas as the season-ending race on the 2011 schedule.

NFL

Batch says labor talks 'going well'

Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch emerged with a smile and a positive outlook Monday after attending a fourth consecutive day of federally mediated negotiations between the NFL and the players' union in Washington.

"Things are going well," said Batch, a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee. "We'll see how things progress over the coming days."

He didn't discuss any details.

■ The Miami Dolphins hired three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bryan Cox as the team's pass rush coach, bringing him back to the franchise that drafted him 20 years ago. A fifth-round selection by the Dolphins in 1991, Cox played 12 seasons in the NFL, the first five with Miami. He also played with Chicago (1996-97), the Jets (1998-2000), New England (2001) and New Orleans (2002).

■ The Cincinnati Bengals filled an opening on their coaching staff by hiring James Urban as receivers coach. Urban has been the quarterbacks coach with Philadelphia the past two years.

UK sports

Bat Cats seeking first win at Morehead

Kentucky's baseball team heads to Morehead State after being swept in a weekend season-opening tournament. The Wildcats and Eagles will square off Tuesday at 2 p.m. Kentucky freshman right-hander Jonathan Paquet will make his first start against Morehead State's Cody Gibson. Kentucky (0-3) dropped all three games over the weekend at College of Charleston, losing to the host team, to Marshall and to Miami (Ohio). Morehead State (0-3) is coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of Western Carolina.

■ Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer was named one of three Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week for his 13-strikeout outing on Sunday. Meyer allowed three hits and one earned run, but the Wildcats lost 3-1 to Miami (Ohio).

■ Kentucky softball junior Brittany Cervantes was named the Southeastern Conference's player of the week after the Wildcats won the Garnet and Gold Tournament hosted by Florida State. Cervantes batted .625 and added four walks in five games. She had three home runs, a double, three stolen bases and seven RBI.

■ Kentucky sophomore Chase Parker shot a 3-under-par 69 to tie for the lead after 36 holes at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Ala. Kentucky (293-302—595) is tied for sixth as a team. Freshman Cody Martin (73-73—146) is tied for eighth heading into the final round.

Etc.

Williams back to coach Grambling football

■ Doug Williams is returning to Grambling and will coach the Tigers football team. Grambling spokeswoman Debra Johnson said Monday that the school is "in the process of making the announcement" that Williams would be the university's next head coach. Williams was the general manager of UFL's Virginia franchise in 2010. The former Grambling quarterback was the MVP of Super Bowl XXII with the Washington Redskins. He later succeeded Eddie Robinson as coach at his alma mater, winning three straight Southwestern Athletic Conference titles from 1998-2003.

■ Lexington Center announced Monday that Learfield Sports will continue to manage advertising, sponsorships and signage inside Rupp Arena through 2016. The five-year extension, which begins July 1, will include enhancing the high-definition television video offerings throughout Rupp's concourse and concession areas. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The last word

Many of the golfers playing in this week's Match Play Championship say they have a love-hate feeling about the format. No other tournament on the PGA Tour schedule is like this one. There are 32 opening-round matches, meaning 32 players will be happy and 32 players not so much. Said Geoff Ogilvy of losing in match play:

"It's horrific, at least the first 10 minutes (afterward). If you finish top 10 in a tournament, you can find something good about it. You can't find anything good about losing at match play."

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